Because I can..

My friend Rachel is an amazing mom and such an inspiration for me. I'm sure it helps that she has the sweetest little boy ever. I was honored to see this beautiful boy a lot this weekend. 

On Saturday, we headed to Birmingham for a shower to celebrate with her high school friends. He was so good. He slept the entire way there. He was playful, sweet, and so flirty with all the girls. He is so funny with women! She's going to have a heartbreaker! On the way home he was a little fussy but only because he had a dirty diaper.

On Sunday, D and I were able to attend his baptism (dedication) ceremony. It was so sweet. When the pastor asked for everyone who had prayed for baby David to stand (and nearly everyone in the church stood)... I cried. The journey that Rachel and Daniel have traveled to have God place David with them is so overwhelming to me. 3 years, they prayed and cried, and dreamed, and cried some more, and then prayed some more. They knew that God was preparing them for something huge. They have an amazing dedication and faith in God's plan and God's timing.

"Lost Lives, Give Life"

This is copied from Rachel @ The Pughs

Today, October 15th, is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. So, today I am praying for all of you out there that are remembering all the babies you never got the chance to meet and those who were gone too soon. Here is how this day is remembered: 

To celebrate the memory of these babies, I encourage you to visit one of my favorite blogs (As mentioned Here) to help save the life of a child. The blog is called Stuff Christians Like and they are having a day to raise funds to purchase malaria nets for the Nakaseke District of Uganda. 100% of the money goes to purchase these nets. More than a million people a year die of Malaria. Most of these are under the age of 5.

1 Net = $10 = 1 life saved

When you purchase your net, you will be sent GPS coordinates to go to Google Earth and check out the location of the person that YOU saved. You can click here to visit SCL's blog article or HERE to donate. After you donate a net (or 2 or 3 :) you can put in the comments of the SCL blog post that you are donating in memory of your baby or in honor of those celebrating Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day.

Status

I have seen this status pop up on facebook a few times recently:

I have carried ___ children in my body. I have comforted babies upon my chest. My body is not magazine perfect but when I look in the mirror, I see a mother & there is no greater honor or blessing. Make this your status if you are proud to be a mother!

I can't take it anymore. I have to say something.

• Approximately 6.1 million women (according to a study in 1995 - last stat I could find) STRUGGLE every day with infertility.
• I have comforted hundreds of kids in my day and I am not a mother.
• So according to this... I am not greatly blessed?

No, I have not felt the heartbreak of trying month after month with no positive result, but my heart breaks for those who have and I feel a strong need to protect them. I know that the mommies who have posted this think it's cute and "true" and want to share. I think they would feel differently if they knew what these people go through on a daily basis just to have what came so naturally to someone else.

BTW... I'm not trying to offend anyone that put this as their status.

Infertility... GO AWAY!

As many of you know, my BFF has had lots of trouble conceiving a child.  She will take a blood pregnancy test on wednesday to see if this month was successful.  Please pray for a POSITIVE!!!

Infertility

LOL at this pic :)
So as you have read I have a very dear friend who is dealing with being not so fertile.

I'd like to share some things about being the friend of someone who is dealing with this.

1. You want more than anything to fix it for them!
2. You also want to punch people in the face - HARD - "when are you going to have one?????????" "I'm not too excited about being pregnant!!" "My kid drives me crazy when he/she does ______"
3. Her life is consumed by it and I hurt for her. (Not that she shouldn't be consumed but she feels like a bad friend for thinking/talking about it)
4. She should not feel bad. EVER. She is my friend and I love that I can be there for her when she needs an open ear or a dry shoulder.
5. I'm afraid to be excited about pregnancy symptoms she may have because I hate to see her crushed.

On the up side... She's been referred to ART (assisted reproductive technologies?) in Bham. (See Prayers)
She was scared, worried, nervous, excited... check all of the above box here.
Things she learned...

1. They told her to split her bromacriptine (sp?) in half and take BID to avoid peaks and valleys
2. They started her on daily injections
3. They discussed IUI for later
4. They ordered an MRI of her brain to check for a pituitary tumor - ALL CLEAR!!!
5. New blood work was done - NORMAL
6. Gave her great hope!!
7. Didn't make her husband re-do any of his tests!!!